Jackson v. State

Ronald Jackson appeals a conviction and sentence for armed robbery while actually possessing a firearm. We affirm without comment the trial court’s rulings made during the guilt phase of the trial. We vacate the 25-year prison sentence, however, because the trial court’s remarks immediately before pronouncing the sentence are reasonably construed as affirmatively punishing Jackson for failing to show any remorse or regret for any of his actions, thereby denying due process and fundamentally erring.

At sentencing, the trial court made several remarks, including the following:

Mr. Jackson, you’ve…